Sharing Stories

A number of guests attended this year’s Hanger Education Fair and National Meeting to share their stories, from pediatric amputees and Camp No Limits attendees to peer mentors and the creators of new O&P technology. Pedro Pimenta, Hanger patient advocate, talked about the support he has been able to give and receive in the peer mentoring program, which connects amputees with others who have gone through similar experiences. Ezra Frech, age 9, talked about his success as an athlete along with his mother, Bahar Soomekh and his prosthetist, Kevin Carroll, MS, CP, FAAOP. Deven Jackson and his mother Michelle Jackson talked about the difference Camp No Limits has made for their family and Sydney Howard showed off her special prosthesis used for gymnastics along with Mary Leighton, OTR/L, founder and president of Camp No Limits.

Meanwhile practitioners had the chance to get up close and personal with devices such as the Parker Indego exoskeleton demonstrated by Rick Hart, a T12 paraplegic and Clare Hartigan, PT, MPT. Event attendees also were treated to entertainment from a group of child and adult amputees, who performed a song and dance during the opening ceremony about the fun they had at Camp No Limits. – by Amanda Alexander

Rick Hart and Clare Hartigan, PT, MPT, Shepherd Center, demonstrate the Parker Indego exoskeleton.

Rick Hart and Clare Hartigan, PT, MPT, Shepherd Center, demonstrate the Parker Indego exoskeleton.

Image: Alexander A, O&P Business News

Ezra Frech (center), his mom, Bahar Soomekh and prostheist Kevin Carroll, MS, CP, FAAOP, share Ezra’s story.

Ezra Frech (center), his mom, Bahar Soomekh and prostheist Kevin Carroll, MS, CP, FAAOP, share Ezra’s story.

Pedro Pimenta, Hanger patient advocate, speaks about his journey as a quadruple amputee.

Pedro Pimenta, Hanger patient advocate, speaks about his journey as a quadruple amputee.

Images: Alexander A, O&P Business News

Deven Jackson and his mom Michelle talk about Camp No Limits.

Deven Jackson and his mom Michelle talk about Camp No Limits.

Sydney Howard (left) shows her gymnastics-specific prosthesis with Mary Leighton, OTR/L, founder and president of Camp No Limits.

Sydney Howard (left) shows her gymnastics-specific prosthesis with Mary Leighton, OTR/L, founder and president of Camp No Limits.

Images: Alexander A, O&P Business News

Hanger patients perform a song and dance at the end of a presentation about Camp No Limits. A few of the children spoke about the friends they made at camp before the group sang “You’ve Got A Friend in Me.”

Hanger patients perform a song and dance at the end of a presentation about Camp
No Limits. A few of the children spoke about the friends they made at camp before
the group sang “You’ve Got A Friend in Me.”

Image: Alexander A, O&P Business News

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